My Life in Peace Corps Guatemala. Please note: the contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

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Ferria 2017 Pt III

On the last day of the Ferria, August 15, the city celebrated the Feast of the Assumption. Actually this is a Catholic celebration and although a good portion of the population are not Catholic, but it seemed to blend in seamlessly with the Ferria.

Two great processions filled the streets for this feast day. There was a huge wooden structure decorated with colored ribbons, small mirrors and hundreds of peacock feathers. Inside was a statue of the Virgin Mary. Behind that altar was a statue of ChristThe procession was led by priests, nuns, lay devotees and musicians. It wound in and out of streets and stopped traffic. It was wondrous.

Inside the cathedral, there were people in prayer each day.

But closer to the feast day, the church was prepared with flowers.

After carrying the altar for miles, it was taken to the church. The man in the front left of the above photo must’ve been looking at the palo voladores. Who could blame him (see below)?

Once inside the church, people made a line to the altar to pray to Mary. The actual mass to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption was packed, far more than in the images below. Altogether it was a week to remember forever and one to look forward to again, next year.